Trail of Tears

Trail of Tears Bean Plant

The Cherokee Trail of Tears bean seeds were carried by the Native Americans on their infamous walk that is known as "The Trail of Tears".  They were forced to walk from the Smoky Mountains to Oklahoma in 1839.  Over 4,000 members of the tribe died during this walk.  The seeds have been preserved and continue to be planted in gardens across the United States.  When the beans have matured, they are dried before eating and used in many traditional Native American dishes.  Our plants will soon "sneak" up the trellis as they continue to grow.